Representation: Apportionment and Congressional Districts
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What is apportionment in the context of the House of Representatives?
It is the process of dividing the 435 seats in the House among the 50 states based on their population as determined by the U.S. Census.
How often does apportionment take place?
Every 10 years, immediately following the completion of the U.S. Census.
What 1929 law permanently set the number of House seats at 435?
The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929.
What is redistricting?
After apportionment, redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries for congressional districts within a state to account for population shifts.
Who is typically responsible for carrying out redistricting?
The state legislature in each state.
What is gerrymandering?
The political practice of drawing legislative district boundaries to give an unfair electoral advantage to a particular political party or group.
What important legal principle regarding congressional districts was established by the Supreme Court case *Wesberry v. Sanders* (1964)?
The principle of "one person, one vote," which requires congressional districts within a state to be approximately equal in population.
In the context of gerrymandering, what is "packing"?
Concentrating the opposing party's voters into a small number of districts to make those districts overwhelmingly favor the opposition, thereby wasting their votes.
In the context of gerrymandering, what is "cracking"?
Spreading the opposing party's voters thinly across many districts so that they are always a minority and cannot win elections in those districts.
Can a state lose seats in the House after a census?
Yes. If a state's population grows more slowly than the national average, it may lose one or more congressional seats during reapportionment.
Can a state gain seats in the House after a census?
Yes. If a state's population grows more quickly than the national average, it may gain one or more congressional seats during reapportionment.
